Zambrano acknowledges she is involved in a romantic relationship and shares a residence with Douglas Wickman, a senior principal at C&S Companies, the town's engineering firm.

The board voted 4 to 0, with Zambrano abstaining, to solicit proposals for an independent attorney and certified public accountant to conduct an investigation of Zambrano's relationship with Wickman regarding his work with the town.

Zambrano said she vetted her relationship with Wickman with the town attorney and was told that her relationship did not present a conflict of interest.

Robert George, a Cicero resident who called for Zambrano's resignation, alleged that Zambrano voted to select C&S companies as the town engineer after she took the position of supervisor and that she has personally signed the contract designating the company as the the town's engineer firm. Zambrano should have abstained from due to a conflict of interest, George said.

George told Zambrano and the board at the April 9 board meeting that he believed the relationship was unethical and a misuse of power. He filed an ethics complaint against Zambrano and called for her resignation.

"I was told there no reason to abstain from voting because there was not a conflict of interest," Zambrano said.

Town Councilor Mark Venesky said the decision to launch an investigation is due to the seriousness of George's allegations.